Machiko Kyō

Motoko Yano, better known as , was a Japanese actress who was active primarily in the 1950s. Considered one of Japan's first sex symbols and one of its greatest screen actresses, Kyō is best known for her critically acclaimed work with directors Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Kon Ichikawa, Teinosuke Kinugasa, Kōzaburō Yoshimura, Shirō Toyoda and Hiroshi Teshigahara, appearing in films such as Rashomon, Ugetsu, Gate of Hell, Street of Shame, Floating Weeds, Odd Obsession and The Face of Another.

Kyō received the Lifetime Achievement Japan Academy Film Prize in 1995. For her contributions to the arts, she received the Japanese government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Precious Crown (4th Class).

Early life and education Kyō, an only child, was born in Osaka in 1924. Her father left when she was age 5, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. She adopted Machiko Kyō as her stage name when she entered the Osaka Shochiku Kagekidan in 1936 at age 12.

Career

Kyō trained as a revue dancer and then entered the film industry through Daiei Film in 1949. Two years later, she achieved international fame as the female lead in Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon, which won first prize at the Venice Film Festival and stunned audiences with its nonlinear narrative.

Kyō starred in many more Japanese productions, including Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu (1953), Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell (1953), Kon Ichikawa's Odd Obsession (1959), and Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds (1959).

Her sole role in a non-Japanese film was as Lotus Blossom, the young geisha in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. She also played the title role in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955), directed by Mizoguchi.

Kyō continued to act through her 80s. Her final role was as Matsuura Shino in the NHK television drama series Haregi Koko Ichiban in 2000. In 2017, she was presented with an award of merit at the 40th Japanese Academy Awards. After retiring from film, she moved back to Osaka, where she resided until her death.

Personal life Kyō never married, but her romantic relationship with Daiei Film's president Masaichi Nagata was well-publicized in Japan.

Fujiko Yamamoto described Kyo as a very friendly person and loved the older actress like a big sister.

Death Kyō died from heart failure at her home in Tokyo on May 12, 2019 at the age of 95. She was the last main surviving cast member of Rashomon.

Selected filmography

Films

Hana kurabe tanuki-goten (1949) - Aiai, witch Chijin no ai (1949) - Naomi Harukanari haha no kuni (1950) - Mari, daughter Fukkatsu (1950) - Yukiko Ohara Rashomon (1950) - Masako Kanazawa Hi no tori (1950) Itsuwareru seiso (1950) - Kimicho Koi no Oranda-zaka (1951) - Chigusa Jiyû gakkô (1951) - Yuri Joen no hatoba (1951) Mesu inu (1951) - Emmy Genji monogatari (1951) - Awaji no ue Bakurô ichidai (1951) - Yuki Asakusa kurenaidan (1952) - Ryûko Beni Daibutsu kaigen (1952) - Mayame Nagasaki No Uta Wa Wasureji (1952) - Okumura, Ayako Taki no Shiraito (1952) - Taki no Shiraito Bijo to touzoku (1952) - Sakin Kanojo no tokudane (1952) Ugetsu (1953) - Lady Wakasa Older Brother, Younger Sister (1953) - Mon Gate of Hell (1953) - Kesa Aru onna (1954) - Yoko Hayazuki Shunkin monogatari (1954) - Shunkin Asakusa no yoru (1954) - Setsuko Takashima The Princess Sen (1954) - the princess Sen Bazoku geisha (1954) - Nobukichi A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love (1955) - Sachiko Nonomiya Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955) - Princess Yang Kwei-fei Tōjūrō no Koi (1955) - Okaji Shin, Heike monogatari: Yoshinaka o meguru sannin no onna (1956) - Tomoe Niji ikutabi (1956) - Momoko Mizuhara Street of Shame (1956) - Mickey Tsukigata Hanpeita: Hana no maki; Arashi no maki (1956) - Hagino The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) - Lotus Blossom Itohan monogatari (1957) - Okatsu Odoriko (1957) - Chiyomi Hanamura Jigoku bana (1957) - Sute Yoru no chô (1957) - Mari The Hole (1957) - Nagako Kita Yūrakuchō de Aimashō (1958) - Aya Koyanagi Sorrow Is Only for Women (1958) - Michiko The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958) - Orui (spy) Haha (1958) - Takako Ômachi Ôsaka no onna (1958) - Osen Akasen no hi wa kiezu (1958) - Nobuko Araki Yoru no sugao (1958) - Akemi Satsujin to kenjû (1958) Musume no boken (1958) Anata to watashi no aikotoba: Sayônara, konnichiwa (1959) - Umeko Ichige Sasameyuki (1959) - Sachiko Onna to Kaizoku (1959) - Ayaginu / Oito Yoru no togyo (1959) - Ryoko Kashiwabara Jirôchô Fuji (1959) - Okatsu Odd Obsession (1959) - Ikuko / Wife Floating Weeds (1959) - Sumiko Jokyo (1960) - Omitsu Ruten no ôhi (1960) - Ryûko Korinkakura (Hiroko Aishinkakura) Bonchi (1960) - Ofuku San'nin no kaoyaku (1960) - Chizuru Ashi ni sawatta onna (1960) - Saya Shiozawa Oden jigoku (1960) - Oden Takahashi Konki (1961) - Shizu, Takuo's wife Nuregami botan (1961) - Kiyomigata no Omon Onna no kunshô (1961) - Shikiko Ohba Kodachi o tsukau onna (1961) - Ritsu Ikeda Buda (1961) - Nandabala Black Lizard (1962) - Mrs. Midorikawa Shin no shikôtei (1962) Onna no issho (1962) - Kei Budda (1962) Nyokei kazoku (1963) - Fujiyo Yajima Sweet Sweat (1964) - Umeko Gendai inchiki monogatari: Dotanuki (1964) The Face of Another (1966) - Mrs. Okuyama Jinchoge (1966) - Kikuko, Ueno, 1st Daughter Chiisai tôbôsha (1966) - Yayoi Yamamura Senba zuru (1969) - Chikako Kurimoto Genkai yûkyôden: Yabure kabure (1970) - Sue Yoshida Karei-naru Ichizoku (1974) - Aiko Takasu Kinkanshoku (1955) - Prime Minister's wife Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975, documentary) - Herself Yoba (1976) - Oshima Tora's Pure Love (1976) - Aya Yagyû Kesho (1984) - Tsune Tsutano

Television Hissatsu Shimainin (1981) Shin Hissatsu Shimainin (1982) Hissatsu Shikirinin (1984) Hana no Ran (1994) - Hino Shigeko Genroku Ryōran (1999) - Keishō'in

Honors Medal with Purple Ribbon (1987) Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class, Wisteria (1994)